Another Pandemic Mother’s Day

We were in the thick of it a year ago. You, me, all of us. This pandemic came swooping in and basically took hold of our lives for what we thought and likely prayed would be for a short season of time. But here we are approaching yet another Mother’s Day in a pandemic. Still in the thick of it. I guess not as thick considering last year at this time many of us were on some sort of government mandated modified lock down and it all seemed incredibly overwhelming. A year later, schools have begun opening and COVID-19 vaccines have become a reality.

Sure, we have come a long way this past year. But it has not come easy and has not come without a price. Tears, anxiety, stress and frustration have become something many of us have experienced too regularly this year. Moms have been hit incredibly hard. Many have had to leave careers they love in order to balance the harsh reality of kids schooling at home for over a year. Others have been laid off and are still finding it impossible to land work let alone with an income anywhere near what they made pre-pandemic.

As a working mom, I may be biased, but I believe we have been impacted the most. When I think about this year and how tough it has been, it makes my head spin. One day at a time and some days it was one hour at a time. Constantly worrying that more layoffs would come and my job would be in jeopardy. Sometimes hoping it would because balancing a career with kids school needs was absolutely too much on most days. I am so grateful I have maintained being a full-time working mom but there have been countless days I was no longer interested in the role of mom and employee.

But regardless if you are a working mom with kids schooling at home, a grandma helping your own kids and grandkids through a year like no other or a stay at home mom completely overwhelmed with no longer having a break in the day with kids at school or drowning in diapers feeling like it’s all on your shoulders; you have come a long way since last Mother’s Day. You have made it to today. To Mother’s Day 2021. There are days we are still in the thick of it. But as a mom, there will always be those days. Pandemic or no pandemic.

Celebrate yourself this year on May 9th. Even if it ends up being a day where you still somehow are catching up on laundry and trying to learn 7th grade math to help your kids, take time to celebrate you. For me, that will mean taking some time on May 8th to meet up with a couple mom friends for some socially distant drinks and talking about the year we have all had and likely resulting in laughing until our stomachs hurt. I hope you take time to do something that will give you a much deserved break and bring a smile to your face.

You have come a long way, mom. Your kids are incredibly lucky to have YOU as their mom. Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at allmomdoes!